The CT Health Care Partnership Bill would allow cities and towns to tap into the State employee health care system. We support this legislation because it addresses one of the fastest rising costs for municipal taxpayers; health care for municipal employees -- a line item that has seen double digit increases in recent years. Its success would be accomplished by capturing savings through increased bargaining power and lower administrative costs by using the states largest health care purchasing pool, state employees.

CCAG will be supporting legislation that:

• Enacts penalties for Insurance companies that provide incentives to deny care and benefits when obligated to provide care.
• Requires health insurance carriers to accurately report what percentage of every dollar received is actually paid out in medical claims (Medical Loss Ratio), and mandate that they spend no less than 87.5 % towards claims.

It’s important that the state of CT take action now to address the racial disparities in our health care system. We’ll be urging legislative leaders to fund the Office of Minority Health, and invest in translator services and cultural competency training for medical professionals. While the causes of health disparities are complex, we know that racial and ethnic minorities in CT are more likely to lack health insurance, receive lower-quality care, and suffer from worse health outcomes.

Governor Rell’s “Charter Oak Health Care Plan”, which passed last year was put forth by Governor Rell with the claim that it was “the answer to the state’s health care problem,” when actually it is a severely limited insurance program that provides only limited prescription drug and durable medical equipment benefits. It would also undermine major consumer protections currently in state law such as the equal treatment of mental health and physical health benefits. This is not the type of health reform that CT needs.

Stamford Advocate - November 14, 2007

By Natasha Lee
Staff Writer

HARTFORD - Hospital officials yesterday overwhelmingly supported draft recommendations to increase state medical reimbursement rates and improve patient access to health care, but warned state officials to act quickly.

Connecticut Post Online - October 18, 2007

Ken Dixon

HARTFORD — An advisory group with a goal to design a universal health care system in Connecticut had its inaugural meeting on Wednesday and legislative leaders were there to encourage them.

Created during this year's legislative session, the HealthFirst Connecticut Authority is bringing health care professionals, activists and advocates together with a common goal at a time when as many as 400,000 state residents may be without adequate insurance coverage.

Stamford Advocate - October 18, 2007

By Brian Lockhart

HARTFORD - It didn't take long yesterday for a panel exploring a universal health care system in Connecticut to display its differences.

A few minutes into the first meeting of the HealthFirst Connecticut Authority, member Mickey Herbert, president of ConnectiCare Health Plans, encouraged colleagues to shy away from studying health care systems in other countries that discourage "choice."

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The president mischaracterizes congressional efforts to expand the SCHIP program.

Summary
President Bush gave a false description of proposed legislation to expand the 10-year-old federal program to provide health insurance for children in low-income working families.